Capn Craig
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2010
- Messages
- 519
Conundrum #2
Four trawlers were hijacked by Somali pirates. Their captains were taken to desert island, where they were to be shot. When they arrived at the island, a discussion amongnst the pirates ensued. How should they be shot? And, shouldn't they be tortured first? They came up with a plan. The captains were buried in the sand up to their necks. The first captain was buried facing a wall, he could see the wall and nothing else. The second captain was buried facing the other side of the wall, he could see the wall and nothing else. The third captain was buried behind the second captain. He could see captain #2 and the wall and nothing else. The fourth captain was buried behind the third captain. He could see captain #3 and captain #2 and the wall and nothing else. In an unlikely gesture of humanity, the Somali's provided each captain a hat to ward off the sun. The captains were told that the four hats provided were 2 red hats and 2 black hats. The captains could not see the color of the hat they were wearing. However, captain 4 could see the hats on captain 3 & 2, and captain 3 could see captain 2's hat. Captain 2 and captain 1 could only see the damn wall.
The captains were told that they would undergo an intelligence test before being shot. They were told they would be given 5 minutes to ponder their answer, but if they spoke to each other they would be shot. At the end of 5 minutes, one of the captains must say what color his hat is. If he is wrong they will all be killed. If he is right, they will be deemed smarter than the average trawlerman and allowed to return back to their boats alive.
At the end of 5 minutes, one captain speaks up. Did they live? which captain spoke up? Why was he certain of the color of his hat?
Four trawlers were hijacked by Somali pirates. Their captains were taken to desert island, where they were to be shot. When they arrived at the island, a discussion amongnst the pirates ensued. How should they be shot? And, shouldn't they be tortured first? They came up with a plan. The captains were buried in the sand up to their necks. The first captain was buried facing a wall, he could see the wall and nothing else. The second captain was buried facing the other side of the wall, he could see the wall and nothing else. The third captain was buried behind the second captain. He could see captain #2 and the wall and nothing else. The fourth captain was buried behind the third captain. He could see captain #3 and captain #2 and the wall and nothing else. In an unlikely gesture of humanity, the Somali's provided each captain a hat to ward off the sun. The captains were told that the four hats provided were 2 red hats and 2 black hats. The captains could not see the color of the hat they were wearing. However, captain 4 could see the hats on captain 3 & 2, and captain 3 could see captain 2's hat. Captain 2 and captain 1 could only see the damn wall.
The captains were told that they would undergo an intelligence test before being shot. They were told they would be given 5 minutes to ponder their answer, but if they spoke to each other they would be shot. At the end of 5 minutes, one of the captains must say what color his hat is. If he is wrong they will all be killed. If he is right, they will be deemed smarter than the average trawlerman and allowed to return back to their boats alive.
At the end of 5 minutes, one captain speaks up. Did they live? which captain spoke up? Why was he certain of the color of his hat?